We have all been victims and we probably do play the victim sometimes, but ultimately what a victim is is someone who has agreed, on a deeper or conscious level that the past and the hurt of the past has more power over our present. Its blaming the person who stole your power who you haven’t forgiven or dealt with the pain of. It is refusing to take ownership for your mistakes and actions. Essentially, refusing to be a victim is stating that you have power over your life and are responsible for your own happiness.
In today’s society i can see it very easy for many to remain complacent in their victim-hood, because it serves them. Of course many enablers who need to be needed contribute to the dysfunction by allowing bad behavior to continue because it enables the victim to avoid meeting his own needs by having the codependent need freak meet them.
To take full ownership for your life, of your choices and happiness takes a lot of accountability. I would imagine many successful people have done this.